Discover the ultimate comfort dessert: a heavenly blend of tender baked apples crowned with a delightful, crisp topping of steel cut oats and coconut. This easy apple crumble recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for any occasion and elevated further with a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
The Ultimate Easy Apple Crumble with Steel Cut Oats and Coconut
There’s something inherently comforting about a warm apple crumble. It’s a timeless dessert that evokes feelings of home, warmth, and simple pleasures. But what if you could take that classic comfort and elevate it with incredible texture and a hint of exotic flavor? Enter this Easy Apple Crumble with Steel Cut Oats and Coconut – a recipe that promises not just ease, but an unforgettable culinary experience.
Why This Apple Crumble Recipe Will Become Your New Favorite
Forget everything you thought you knew about apple crumbles. This isn’t just “another” recipe; it’s *the* recipe you’ll return to again and again. The magic lies in two key ingredients: steel cut oats and coconut. While many crumbles opt for rolled oats, the steel cut variety introduces an unparalleled “toothsome texture” – a delightful chewiness that contrasts beautifully with the soft, spiced apples underneath. And the coconut? It adds a subtle sweetness and a tropical hint that brightens the entire dish, setting it apart from more traditional versions.
This recipe transforms humble baked apples into a gourmet-level dessert without any fuss. The preparation is straightforward, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or when you need a reliable dessert to impress guests. It’s truly a testament to how simple ingredients, thoughtfully combined, can create something extraordinary.
Beyond the Recipe Card: My Culinary Journey and Inspiration
As a passionate home cook, I’m always on the lookout for new inspiration, whether it’s from a favorite cooking show or a well-loved cookbook. For a long time, my evenings were punctuated by the culinary drama of Chopped. I was hooked, watching every episode, learning from the challenges and the expertise of the judges. I felt like I knew chefs like Aaron, Alex, Amanda, and, of course, Geoffrey Zakarian – in my head, they were all good friends, albeit ones I’d be terrified to cook for!
So, when I discovered Geoffrey Zakarian’s cookbook, My Perfect Pantry, I knew it was a must-have for my collection. Initially, seeing “150 recipes from 50 essential ingredients” made me curious but also a little skeptical. I imagined a book where every single recipe would *only* use those 50 ingredients, which sounded like a challenge, even for a seasoned cook.
A Fresh Approach to Pantry Cooking
To my pleasant surprise, the book’s concept was far more innovative and practical than I first assumed. Instead of limiting recipes to a fixed list, “My Perfect Pantry” shines a spotlight on individual staple ingredients, offering three distinct recipes that highlight the versatility of each. This format makes it an invaluable resource for any home cook looking to explore new uses for common ingredients or simply use up something that’s been lingering in the pantry. Have an abundance of vegetable stock? The book offers creative solutions. It’s a truly refreshing departure from typical cookbook structures.
Cookbook Review Highlights:
- Visual Appeal: Filled with large, enticing photographs accompanying every recipe, making it a joy to browse and inspiring confidence in trying new dishes.
- Accessibility: Despite Geoffrey Zakarian’s reputation as a top chef, the recipes are designed for the everyday home cook. The difficulty level is predominantly easy, with only a few leaning towards medium, making it suitable for beginners and experienced cooks alike.
- Ingredient Simplicity: Staying true to its pantry-focused theme, the ingredients required are readily available at any standard grocery store. No obscure or hard-to-find items here.
I’m constantly marking pages for dishes I want to try next, such as Pork Adobo with Coconut, Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken Skewers, Coconut Custard Pie, Family Chicken Tenders, Blackberry Panna Cotta, and Park’s Ham and Biscuits. This book is a true gem, offering endless possibilities for delicious homemade meals.
You can purchase “My Perfect Pantry” on Amazon or learn more about it here.
Overall Impressions of “My Perfect Pantry”
My only minor critique of the cookbook is its unique organization. While charming, it can be a bit challenging if you’re looking to plan an entire dinner menu at a glance, as appetizers, main courses, and desserts aren’t grouped traditionally. However, this non-traditional structure is also part of its allure, encouraging serendipitous discovery. Overall, I absolutely adore this cookbook and look forward to diving into many more of its recipes.
The Unexpected Star: Easy Apple Crumble
This particular apple crumble recipe, originally named “Oatmeal Coconut Crumble” in the book, caught my eye almost by accident. Despite the name, I felt the apples were truly the prominent ingredient, the undeniable star of the dish. Its simplicity and incredible flavor led me to rename it the “Easy Apple Crumble,” a title it thoroughly deserves.
When I first pulled it from the oven, I admit, I had my doubts. It looked like a humble dessert, and the amount of liquid made me worry it wouldn’t be anything special. But oh, how wrong I was! That first bite was a revelation. The tender, spiced apples, bathed in their sweet, tangy juices, married perfectly with the unbelievably crunchy, chewy, and fragrant topping. I instantly knew I had discovered my new favorite crumble recipe.
The Secret Weapon: Steel Cut Oats
This easy apple crumble recipe originates from the section of “My Perfect Pantry” dedicated to steel cut oats. While I’m not a huge fan of oatmeal for breakfast, my husband is, so I often keep a supply on hand. It was a stroke of genius by Chef Zakarian to incorporate them into a dessert crumble. The steel cut oats provide a texture that rolled oats simply can’t replicate – a satisfying chewiness that Geoffrey accurately describes as “toothsome.” This textural dimension takes the crumble from good to exceptional, adding an unexpected layer of complexity and enjoyment. Combined with the delicate sweetness of coconut, it creates a symphony of flavors and textures that is truly captivating.
Tips for Making the Perfect Apple Crumble
Creating the perfect apple crumble is easier than you think. Here are a few tips to ensure your dessert turns out flawless every time:
- Choose the Right Apples: For a balanced flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Golden Delicious (as specified in the recipe) is excellent for sweetness and softness. Granny Smith adds a lovely tartness and holds its shape well. Honeycrisp or Fuji are also great options for their crisp texture and balanced sweetness.
- Uniform Apple Cubes: Cut your apples into roughly 1-inch cubes so they cook evenly. This ensures every bite has perfectly tender apple.
- Don’t Skimp on Lemon: The lemon zest and juice are crucial. They brighten the apple flavor, prevent the apples from browning, and add a refreshing tang that cuts through the sweetness.
- Cold Butter is Key: For a truly crumbly topping, ensure your butter is very cold and cut into small cubes. This prevents it from melting too quickly when mixed with the dry ingredients, resulting in a flakier, crispier topping.
- Don’t Overprocess the Topping: When using a food processor for the crumble topping, pulse it just until it reaches a coarse, crumbly texture with some pieces about the size of a pea. Overprocessing can make the topping dense.
- Look for Golden Brown: Bake until the topping is golden brown and deeply caramelized. This indicates maximum crispness and flavor. The apple mixture underneath should be visibly bubbling and thickened.
- Serve Warm: While delicious cold, this apple crumble truly shines when served warm, allowing the aromas to fully develop and the textures to be at their best.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
This easy apple crumble is fantastic on its own, but here are some ideas to make it even more special:
- Homemade Whipped Cream: As suggested, a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream is the classic accompaniment. Its lightness perfectly balances the richness of the crumble.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop of good quality vanilla bean ice cream melting over the warm crumble is pure indulgence.
- Caramel Sauce: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the top for an extra layer of sweetness and decadence.
- Custard or Crème Anglaise: For a more sophisticated touch, serve with a rich, silky crème anglaise or a simple homemade custard.
- Nutty Twist: For added crunch and flavor, consider adding a quarter cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble topping mixture.
- Spice it Up: A pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or ginger can further enhance the apple and cinnamon flavors.
Storing and Reheating Your Apple Crumble
If you happen to have any leftovers (a rare occurrence with this recipe!), they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm individual servings in the microwave or place the entire dish back in a preheated oven (around 300°F/150°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through and the topping is crisp again. Cover loosely with foil if the topping starts to brown too much.
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Easy Apple Crumble with Oatmeal and Coconut
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Ingredients
- 7 tablespoons cold butter cut into small cubes, plus more for the baking dish
- 6 medium Golden Delicious apples peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup sugar
- zest and juice from 1 large lemon about 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sweetened coconut
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Butter a 2 quart baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Pour into the prepared dish.
- Combine the oats, flour and sugar in a food processor and process to break down the oats. Add in the coconut, cinnamon and salt and pulse to combine. Add 6 tablespoons of the butter to the food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly, with the biggest pieces about the size of a pea.
- Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top of the apple mixture. Dot the top of the crumble with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Bake until the topping is golden brown, the apples are tender and the mixture is thickened and bubbly, about 35 minutes.
- Serve warm, topped with fresh whipped cream.
Recipe Notes:
**Disclosure: I received “My Perfect Pantry” from Blogging for Books for review purposes, but all opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these Amazon links, Taste and Tell may receive a small commission, which helps support this blog. Thank you for your continued support!**